The Bridge
It was just beginning.
I stood at the entrance of the bridge, fear consuming me. I did not know if I could do it, I did not know what was to come, the unknown was so overwhelming, but my journey had led me to this moment. The moment to decide if I would stay where I had always been or take a leap into the unknown. This was my opportunity to do things differently, live on my own terms and, for once, choose myself before everyone else. I took a deep breath, put one foot in front of the other, let go, and ventured forward.
Who am I
I am Dawn...
In the past, if someone asked me, "Who is Dawn?" I would have struggled to answer that question. I would have worried about my response and felt inadequate because it appeared I did not know myself. So, I would default to answers like: mother, daughter, wife, or accountant, as I was defined by who I was to other people. My answer would be based on a snapshot instead of having a fluid sense of self. When I look back, my expectation to present a perfect Dawn got in the way of understanding who I was.
With a lot of hard work and extensive self-reflection, I can say I am a strong, caring, hopeful woman who is looking to help others find their path to authenticity. I am excited about my future and am patient with myself as I evaluate my behaviors and actions. I represent honesty, love, and hope, and look for any way I can share it with others. I accept who I am, and I understand I am not perfect; I am a work in progress.
WHO ARE YOU?
Who am I
I AM ASHLEA...
The question, Who am I? is something I have wondered about for most of my life. As I continue in my journey, I am beginning to learn the answer. I am an honest, considerate, caring, and loyal person. I strive to live life with integrity within myself. I strive to treat myself like I am my best friend.
I am a human being who is evolving, metamorphosing, growing, and changing every single day. I am learning how to love myself. I am learning how to love other people authentically. I am learning how to give to myself, in a true, happy, and healthy way. I am learning to emotionally care for myself like I do everyone else.
Who I am is not decided. Who I am right now is not the same person I was 2 years ago or 10 years ago. Who I am right now is not the same person I will be in 10 years. I am growing, learning, and changing every day. I am constantly evolving. I am just me. Perfectly imperfect and beautifully metamorphosizing.
WHO ARE YOU?
Who am I
I AM MEL...
For a long time, I didn’t know how to answer the question “Who am I?” Instead, asking, 'Who do you want me to be?' I wrapped my worth around being everything for everyone, trying to rescue, to prove, to earn love. I didn’t realize I needed external validation to define me.
Recovery had me look inside my broken self. It helped me examine the person who only knew codependency, and made me look at the shadows that kept showing up and running the show. Through therapy, 12-step work, ritual, shadow work, and deep spiritual healing, I’ve come home to myself. The real me isn’t perfect, but she’s powerful. She is wise, fierce, sensitive, and still learning how to soften herself into self-love.
I am an emotional Scorpio, born on Halloween, a mystic design, a mirror for transformation. I walk with both grief and grace and realize that two things can exist at the same time. I’ve caused pain in others and received my fair share in return. I’ve loved deeply and let go without regret. I am a cycle-breaker, a truth seeker, and a lightworker walking together with the wounded parts of myself and now with you towards a greater understanding.
WHO ARE YOU?